Frederik Hammes, who stepped into the role of managing director of Gamescom Dev after Stephan Reichart earlier this year, points to the latest Gamescom Dev speaker survey as clear evidence that independent, smaller‑scale studios now represent the most significant growth prospect within the games market. "You can achieve more with a lean team, yet business responsibilities remain essential," Hammes explains to GamesIndustry.biz. "Even if your studio consists of just three people, someone still has to handle the administrative side.
I like to think of Gamescom Dev as a one‑stop hub where creators can access everything they need – production expertise, programming know‑how, development processes, creative direction, design insights – and also learn how to run a sustainable business. No matter how advanced the technology becomes, solid business fundamentals remain crucial." The event, formerly known as Devcom, was rebranded to Gamescom Dev in August 2025, a move Hammes says effectively extends the main Gamescom festival into a full‑week experience. "There are strong arguments for aligning more closely with Gamescom," he notes. "We now have a powerful partner behind us, which brings many advantages.
Practically speaking, it simplifies things for attendees who might not have been familiar with the separate conferences before. Previously we operated two distinct events with separate ticketing systems and little integration. Now there is a single ticket portal that gives you access to everything.
The Gamescom business week runs from Monday to Friday, and anyone who purchases a ticket can also wander over to the main Gamescom exhibition until Friday." This year’s programme features 390 speakers and 220 sessions spread across 17 stages. Hammes cautions that success shouldn’t be measured solely by numbers. "It shouldn't be a numbers game," he says. "We don’t need to hit arbitrary attendance targets.
It's always about supply and demand, and we’re seeing the market become more specialized." He also acknowledges that the event’s current venue, the Confex Center at Koelnmesse, imposes physical limits on expansion. "At the moment the show fits comfortably within the space we have, but there is limited room to grow," Hammes admits. "If the industry continues on its present trajectory, we may eventually need to expand further and perhaps locate even closer to the main Gamescom site.
The current plan is not to dramatically increase size because that would require a larger logistical effort, possibly moving the venue nearer to Gamescom—a possibility we are keeping under review. If the democratization of game development continues, with more small studios entering the field, we will need additional capacity to accommodate everyone." Gamescom Dev originated in 2017 to fill the void left when GDC Europe discontinued its European edition. While the San Francisco‑based Game Developers Conference (GDC) targets a similar audience and covers comparable topics, Hammes does not view it as a direct competitor.
Instead, he emphasizes a sense of community that exists behind the scenes. "We are still separate organisations," he says. "Everyone wants to make money, but the atmosphere isn’t as cut‑throat as some might imagine. In the end, the industry is like a global circus—in a positive sense—where people travel from one conference to another.
It isn’t about eliminating other events to become the sole platform. When all conferences thrive, the whole industry benefits. Our colleagues at GDC are currently facing challenges related to the environment they operate in, which are not of their own making. I hope those issues improve soon, and that everyone does well." A fresh addition to this year’s schedule is the Leadership Summit series.
These one‑day gatherings provide top‑level executives a private setting—no press, no microphones, no recordings—to discuss the current turbulence in the market. "It’s less about listening and more about speaking up and exchanging ideas," Hammes explains. "I was present when the first summit launched.
We asked the room how many had delivered bad news in the past year, and every hand went up. When we asked how many had received bad news about their own company, the hands stayed raised. It’s a challenging environment right now. We want to give leaders a safe space to be candid, because at senior levels there’s often pressure to project confidence and stability, which can make openness difficult." The speaker survey also reveals a split opinion on artificial intelligence.
While 47 % of speakers believe AI will be the most transformative development for the industry over the next three years, only 11 % consider AI literacy the top skill to cultivate. "How do we reconcile that? One could argue we’re over‑estimating AI’s impact or under‑preparing for it," Hammes reflects.
"My conclusion is that neither is entirely correct. When you ask what the most critical skill really is, 27 % point to leadership.
That tells us we recognise change is coming, but we’re not looking for a technological silver bullet. We’re seeking leaders who can guide us through the transition.
In other words, we need people who can steer the industry, not just new tools." Overall, Hammes sees Gamescom Dev as a catalyst for small studios to thrive, a platform for sharing practical business knowledge, and a venue where industry leaders can confront challenges together. As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, the emphasis on adaptable leadership, community collaboration, and strategic growth will remain at the heart of the event’s mission.